Philadelphia

Original title: PhiladelphiaProduction and year: USA, 1993 Genre: drama Cast: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas Medical theme: AIDS Description: Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) is a young, highly promising lawyer. He is employed at the prestigious firm Wheeler & Bendick, and his bosses speak highly of him. His personal life is also very fulfilling. Andrew is gay and hides the fact that he is in a relationship with the handsome Miguel (Antonio Banderas) from his colleagues. He also keeps the fact that he has AIDS a secret from them (he only tells his mother and his partner). The film is full of moving scenes, and although it’s not exactly light viewing for a Friday night, it’s definitely worth watching. A definite strength of the film is its stellar cast, particularly Oscar-winning Tom Hanks. The musical score is also perfectly chosen—the song “Streets of Philadelphia” was also recognized by the Academy. The makeup is particularly impressive, lending even more authenticity to Hanks’s performance, especially during the final days of Andrew’s life. Andrew’s situation changes when he is fired, allegedly for incompetence. The real reason for his dismissal, however, is his illness and sexual orientation. He decides to fight for his rights in court. And here another problem arises, because other lawyers not only don’t want to jeopardize their prestigious firm’s reputation, but they’re also afraid of coming into contact with someone with AIDS. The only person who decides to help Andrew is Joe Miller, his recent opponent in the courtroom. An uneven battle begins, with the stakes being not only financial compensation but also respect for civil rights. Adding to the drama is the fact that the entire story takes place in Philadelphia, where the Constitution was adopted two hundred years earlier.